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Butler was glad to be home. Two weeks off were very nice, though it was hardly relaxing. He was waited on hand and foot, read the latest Danielle Steel and Barbara Starr novels, and had plenty of free time. However, Artemis' question haunted him.

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The young man had cornered the manservant while he was packing, choosing between a Sig Saur or a custom pistol he'd ordered as a birthday gift to himself. He was eager to try the pistol, but felt safer with the reliable Sig Saur on his holster. Choices choices.

"How would one go about proposing?"

Butler glanced at the young man draped across the window seat, fiddling with a black box, looking out the window without really seeing anything. The position was too casual to suit Artemis' character, lying like that. The question was out of the ordinary as well.

"To a woman or to a business partner?"

Artemis rolled his eyes. "A woman."

"Which woman?"

"Tara."

Butler wasn't surprised in the least. The Gavin girl had made a big impact on his employer, a good one. Especially after the Minerva incident. Sometimes she was a bad influence, teasing him too much, acting immature. She was only 21. Did Artemis consider that?

"She's young." Was all the manservant finally said.

"Not that young."

"21 is very young. She's not as emotionally developed as you are, Artemis."

"We're not going to say the nuptials tomorrow, Butler." Artemis sighed. "Please stop with your objections. Just tell me how you would say it. I need help."

Artemis admitting he needed aid? That was a rarity. He must really need help.

"Have you asked your father?"

Another eye roll. "No. I would rather this stay between us. You know how Mother gets."

He could point out that Artemis Sr. might not necessarily tell Angeline, but understood Artemis' situation. He sighed. Might as well tell him. Artemis is more than smart enough to deal with it, he'll wait if it's the right thing to do. Somehow, Butler didn't believe himself.

"Be unique. Don't over do the ring, keep it simple. Ask it simply. First, explain that you love her, and be sure to ask her if she returns it. She might feel pressured to say yes so keep close watch. Talk about the future, but don't mention children."

Artemis nodded. "Thank you, old friend. This means a lot to me. I wonder…" He hesitated. "Do you…object?"

Butler thought over that. Did he? Aside from her obvious youth, and his general dislike of the girl, did he have any true objections? Artemis wasn't any lovesick fool, surely he could be trusted with this decision?

"No. I don't."

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He was home now. He could discuss this with his employer as a friend. There was a sinking feeling in his gut that Artemis had already asked. It wasn't that he didn't want his friend to be happy, just that he wanted him to think it through. So many young people of today rushed into things. The statistics of divorces proved that. Not that he though Artemis hadn't already looked at it from every angle. But it was a big step…he had to be sure. It was, after all, his job to protect his charge physically and emotionally.

"Dom!"

Butler looked up from the car's trunk to see his sister jogging down the path leading to the garage. He set down his suitcase, gave her a big hug and smile then proceeded with the customary questions.

"Juliet. Any trouble?"

Her face was answer enough. Serious, anxious, worried, nervous and relieved all in the face. Normal on his face, not hers.

"What happened?"

"Artemis-" Was all she managed to get out. The moment he heard that he was off up the path in a brisk, long pace, anger seeping into his once happy aura. The girl. If it was anything else the Fowls would have met him. They would have been her.

"What did she do?" He growled. Juliet trailed behind him, easily catching to his large stride.

"Nothing. Tara didn't do anything."

Butler glanced down at his sister incredulously. "Then what is it?"

"He got mad at her. She was…something happened, she knew somebody that was plotting against him. But she didn't know about it, she wasn't involved! Artemis got mad, wouldn't listen to her. Tara didn't take his crap, so she left. He locked her in the room, but she cut herself-"

"What?"

"Not to kill herself or anything, just to say good-bye. 30 minutes after we left, she was gone. Jumped out of the window. I thought she was dead. But she ran. Smart girl, she left a note to buy time. Artemis was devastated. He sent some men out, then locked himself in his rooms. He hasn't been out in…about three days. He's being very childish."

I couldn't agree more.

"Why didn't you tear down the door?"

"He was threatening to do something drastic. Maybe cut himself." She shrugged. "And he used the computer to block the phone lines. And of course I can't decode it."

"You know he's just bluffing."

"So you say." She huffed. "I can't tell. He sounded serious. He'll only listen to you, Dom. But he wouldn't let me call. Even the cells and radios were blocked! "

"When did you last check on him?"

"Twenty minutes ago. He couldn't get to the cameras, I managed to set up a wall."

Butler checked his watch. Artemis would've seen his car coming in the drive from his windows. He must have known Juliet would fill the manservant in.

That door better be unlocked or open.

He made it to the hall in a record time. The door was closed and locked. Without any greeting or announcement, Butler slid his master key into the lock. It was the only one, save Artemis' own. He hadn't thought to leave it with Juliet. Next time it would be on the to-do list. Still without any form of greeting, he walked into Artemis' room.

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A raven head popped up from the desk in the center of the room. Butler was momentarily stunned. Artemis looked so messy. Tear-stained face, red eyes, dried snot under his nose, his white shirt half unbuttoned, and where it was buttoned it was off, creating an uneven end. The jacket part of the outfit was a few feet away on the floor in a heap. The windows were open, winds causing loose paper to have scattered across the floor. It was a little chilly. Artemis either didn't notice or care.

He wipe the runny nose on a shirt sleeve, ducked his head and went back to the pad of sketching paper in front of him.

Butler remained in the doorway, silent, imposing. Artemis didn't try to tell him to leave. He didn't move or react until Butler came into the room, standing before the desk. Finally, he spoke.

"She left." He said quietly, no looking up from the sketch.

"I can tell." Butler said dryly. "Why? Juliet skipped over some details."

The old bodyguard sank into an armchair as his friend wove the tale. What a long soap opera. Aliases, scheming sisters, lies, apologies, misunderstandings…Butler was disappointed when there was no illegitimate child.

"-I found these in her desk. " He tossed a pile of letters, written on an expensive, creamy paper, addressed to a Ms. Tara Gavin. "Some certain letters were slightly bold. A code. The key word was their cat's name." Butler looked over a few. Yes, some key letters were the slightest bit bolder, normal. But apparently this set used the bolds as codes. Smart. Not too elaborate, but simple. The average person bolded certain letters anyhow, it was fairly unnoticeable unless you looked for it.

"She though I'd kill her." He said quietly. "If I knew."

"Were you thinking about it?"

"No."

He kept reading. A line reminded him of something obvious. "Do you think these were left so you could find them?"

Artemis shrugged. "I don't know. Perhaps. They're not planted to sway me. They weren't written for that. " He returned to his drawing, the pencil's drag making light scratching sounds on the paper that were relaxing. Minutes passed before either spoke.

"I should have listened to her." That was Artemis. "I shouldn't have called her a murderer." He shook his head in self-disgust.

"Artemis, you made a mistake. You followed the evidence, found proof of treachery. Maybe you should have waited to accuse her, it was right after her sister's death. It wasn't completely your fault. She wasn't honest.

"She could have-"

"You were both in the wrong. Her for lying, you for accusations wrongly timed. Now you have to solve the problem. "

His employer nodded, appearing to be half dead.

"When was it you last slept?"

"Two days ago. For a little over 3 hours."

Butler stared at the young man. He obviously hadn't had any form of cleansing in that time, either. Still, unperturbed, he sat, drawing from memory. What, the girl?

"Artemis, everyone has break ups-"

"-and they might be terrible, yet everyone gets through them." The young genius mimicked without even looking up. "I know. And I did get over Minerva. But Tara isn't Minerva. I love Tara."

Butler understood. A long time ago, he'd had the same feelings. A long time ago he made a choice he almost regretted, but took back the moment he saw the young man before him. That was 23 years ago, and he still didn't regret it. Artemis was different. Artemis wasn't meant to be alone all of his life.

"Do you think you can fix it?"

"I don't know." He still hadn't looked up.

Ten minutes went by in more silence.

"What are you going to do?"

Artemis looked up finally. "What?"

"About the Gavin girl? Why are you not looking for her? Do you want the LEP to get to her first? I seems to me that if they got a hold of her-"

Artemis paled, something one would think physically impossible considering his current colour, which had been for years white. "The LEP. How could I have forgotten?" He moaned. They'll mind wipe her! "Butler, get me a phone please, I'll be in the study."

"You disconnected all of them."

A string of profanities flew from Artemis' mouth, some words even Butler had never heard. And with that that young genius left the room for the first time in days, muttering to himself like a madman.

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I had a question about Bill, the guy at the diner. He works as a higher up at Fowl Industries. He met Tara once or twice, but doesn't note details, so didn't really make the connection. I put him in the story to show just how close Sophia can and will get to being caught. Artemis practically owns the town. One little misstep in information she's screwed.

Oh, and my ducklings; How much do you want the next chapter? 'Cause, I feel like I'm spoling you, posting so much at once...

-Dania